How Our Films Come To Life

Step 1

Apply

Each year the program creates a scripting challenge. Students and recent grads from partnered schools submit their scripts for consideration. The Coca‑Cola® Refreshing Films Contest is looking for our next generation of filmmakers and scripts. Please see the Creative Brief before you apply.

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Step 2

Selection

The program receives many incredible submissions. The finalists associated with the selected scripts receive a budget to produce their branded spot.

selection

Step 3

Production

The finalists, alongside their crew, use the budget provided to bring their branded spot to life. Each finalist team is mentored throughout the 6 month real world experience. Technical partners such as RED and Company 3 provide students with access to a professional camera and an in-studio color session with their skilled colorists. Students get to work alongside marketing professionals to finalize their branded spot. When the spots are completed, they are hosted online for the world to see.

Production

Step 4

Grand Prize Winner Determination

The Coca‑Cola® Refreshing Films program works with a panel of industry professionals known as the Red Ribbon Panel. They watch, provide feedback, and score each Finalist Team’s Branded Spot, based on the judging criteria to determine the Grand Prize Winner. The Grand Prizes have included professional filmmaking equipment and the film gets screened in Coca Cola® Partnered theaters across North America including AMC Theatres, Cinemark and B&B Theatres.

Grand prize winner selection

2026 – 2027 Coca‑Cola® Refreshing Films Partnered Schools

AFI 

Arizona State University 

Belmont University  

Biola University 

Boston University  

Bowling Green State University  

Brigham Young University  

California State University - Fullerton 

California State University - Los Angeles 

California State University - Northridge 

Chapman University 

Cleveland State University  

College of Southern Nevada (CSN) 

Columbia College Chicago 

Columbia University  

DePaul University  

Dillard University  

Elon University 

Emerson College  

Emory University  

Florida State University 

Full Sail University  

George Mason University  

Georgia State University  

Georgia Tech  

Hofstra University  

Howard University  

Indiana University 

Iona University 

Ithaca College 

Los Angeles Film School  

Loyola Marymount University 

LSU New Orleans  

Missouri State University  

Montclair State University  

Morehouse College 

New Mexico State University  

New York Film Academy (Los Angeles & New York) 

New York University    

Notre Dame 

Pace University 

Ringling College of Art and Design 

Rochester Institute of Technology  

Sarah Lawrence College  

Savannah College of Art and Design (Atlanta) 

Savannah College of Art and Design (Savannah) 

School of Visual Arts 

Shenandoah University  

The New School  

Towson University  

University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) 

University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) 

University of Central Florida (UCF) 

University of Georgia  

University of Miami (FL) 

University of Nevada, Las Vegas 

University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA) 

University of North Carolina - Wilmington  

University of Redlands - Los Angeles  

University of Southern California (USC) 

University of Texas - Austin 

University of West Georgia 

Western Kentucky University  

Wichita State University  

Get Involved

If you want to inquire about getting this program at your school, applying for the program, or supporting the program, fill out the form below. School outreach begins each spring.

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NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Void where prohibited. Open to teams of 2 people where at least 1 member is a legal resident of the 50 U.S./D.C., and both are 18 years or older and full-time or part-time current undergraduate or graduate students, or a person who graduated no earlier than 2025 from one of the participating schools (listed in the Rules). At least one Team member must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. Ends 11:59 PM ET on 10/9/26. For Official Rules including eligibility, click here. Sponsor: The Coca‑Cola Company.